There are many ways to read a Latin text, but most people read and study texts inefficiently and end up wasting their time. Have you ever done the following: You read a Latin text, you think about an expression or an ending, you look up a word in a dictionary, work through it, and understand the text, and then just move on?
Most learners do this but this is wasting your effort. There is a better way we’ve found through interacting with thousands of Latin learners since launching Latinitium in 2016. We now call this way The Legentibus Reading method.
The method works if you use an ebook, paper book, or Legentibus.
Here is what we have found to be the best way to read a Latin text, whether beginner or advanced, inside or outside of Legentibus (our app with loads of Latin texts for all levels, with text synced with audio and in-book dictionaries).
The Legentibus Reading Method to study a Latin text
- Establish context. Read about the historical context of the text to get a frame of reference. Answer the questions: “Who wrote this? What was happening at the time?” You will find the most important information in the introduction of the book but also in the commentary, if the text has one.
- Explore the text. Read, and listen if you have audio, through the whole section/chapter, and try following along and understanding whatever you can. Some words are quite similar to English words! At this stage, it is important to let yourself get pulled along without stopping at difficult words or constructions. This is to get accustomed to understanding Latin linearly, in real-time, instead of “solving” or “decoding” it into English. Therefore it is perfectly okay if you don’t understand everything or even much at all. The point is to become familiar with the text.
- Closer look/Deep reading. Next, go back and start reading (and listening to) the first sentences and try to make out what they mean—first without looking at the translation. Sometimes, we can make out quite a lot from just guessing; it’s fun and helps the words stick better! Then read the notes and look up any unfamiliar words. If you are in doubt, take a look at the translation—it’s not cheating! Continue like this through the whole section/chapter. The aim is to have fully understood the passage by the end.
Always visualize what you read. We highly recommend that you actively try to visualize everything you read or listen to, because this will help you internalize the language, and better understand the text. If you read, e.g., Hannibal in nāve est (“Hannibal is on a/the ship”), picture him standing on a ship; try to really see it in front of you: connect the Latin words to the things they refer to.
- Internalizing language and pronunciation: Now it’s time to consolidate the new, hard-earned knowledge. The hardest part is already done. Read and listen to the section/chapter of the text again from the beginning (maybe the next day) and enjoy how much easier it will be for you to understand! If you want, review until you can understand the Latin audio without looking at the text.
As you re-listen to the audio repeatedly, speak the text aloud along with the recording, trying to mimic the vowel lengths and accentuation. This way you will make the words, expressions, and syntax truly yours, you will have pronounced them multiple times by the end of the book. They will be completely yours. - Celebrate your success: As you finish a session, take some time to congratulate yourself for reading Latin and understanding it as Latin! Some naysayers might say, “You still don’t know Latin.” Yes, but you do know this text that you’ve read. As you read more and more texts this way, you build your confidence, “I might not know Latin fluently, but I can read this text, and this, and that, etc.”. And pretty soon, you won’t have to study texts this way, you will just read them and understand them, perhaps looking at some notes here and there.
Here is a summary:
Summary
- Establish a foundation by reading about the context of the text 📚
- Explore the text (1st reading + listening) 📖🎧
- Deep reading ➝ full understanding (look up words, notes, etc.) 📖❗️
- Internalization (Repeated review reading + listening + speaking) 📖🎧💬
- Celebrate your success 🎉
Now move on to the next section/chapter and repeat the steps. Don’t forget to review the passages you have already mastered from time to time. You’ll find you’re making significant progress. It might seem hard to learn to read Latin well, but it only takes time, patience, and good materials.
Good luck!
